Slash Cost of Meals by Replacing Processed Foods with Fresh Ones

Is there a cheaper alternative to canned food? Yes! It’s called fresh food, believe it or not.

When executive chef Jeff Ansorge faced a midlife crisis, he decided to leave his prestigious job at a Michelin-star restaurant and work as a cook at a Salvation Army soup kitchen. Jeff transferred his skills learned from preparing $40 entrees to slash the Salvation Army’s food budget down to 63 cents per meal, all while providing restaurant-quality food with fresh ingredients, including salmon filets, ripe melons, and fine cheeses.

Many people assume that a can of green beans is the cheapest option, but it’s actually much more expensive than a serving of fresh, steamed vegetables. When you open that can, you’re paying substantially more for convenience and shelf-life. (Check out this cost comparison: at a retail price of $2.00/lb, a serving of fresh green beans will cost you 40 cents, while a less-nutritious serving of canned green beans costs 45 cents.)

Not only are fresh ingredients cheaper, but they significantly improve the nutritional value and healthiness of the meals. Jeff has replaced margarine with butter, breaded chicken strips with fresh roasted chicken, and he even offers real cream with the coffee.